This article discusses and investigates how a slender steel staircase responds to dynamic excitation. A blind analysis predicted the mode shape and main natural frequency of the staircase. From experimental investigation, this prediction was proved to be close to the actual behaviour. Initial and post footfall analysis accurately modelled the response of the staircase. Based on these findings, this work has resulted in a proposed procedure to determine the maximum response of future staircases, which is contained in the full report held by the University of Bristol.
Tim Hill and Matthew Palmer